Tropical Storm Henriette had sustained winds of 69 mph Monday — a tad short of hurricane strength — with gusts up to 86 mph as it moved northwest across the Pacific.
The storm could become a Category 1 hurricane by this morning as it moves over warm seas, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said. The storm is still far from the islands, but forecasters in Honolulu say the weakened remnants of Henriette could bring some rain and/or muggy weather early next week.
Robert Ballard, science and operations officer for the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said it’s too early to say exactly what the storm’s effect on Hawaii will be because forecasts seven days in advance can change significantly.
The forecast discussion for Hawaii said that if Henriette passes to the north, it will "make for a hot and very humid pattern with light winds and the possibility for local downpours," adding, "If Henriette stays to our south, tradewinds and moderate showers would increase as the system passes by. We’ll have a better idea of what Henriette’s going to do as it gets later in the week."
Henrietteon Monday evening was 1,700 miles east-southeast of Hilo and moving northwest at about 11 mph.
"Further strengthening seems likely with light shear and warm water in the path of the storm for the next day or so," the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. forecast. "Although the shear remains low, Henriette will be heading into more stable air and across cooler waters, which should start a weakening trend."
It should enter the Central Pacific as a tropical storm Thursday.
The storm could bring some surf, perhaps at advisory levels of 8 feet or higher, on Saturday.
The official forecast track has Henriette as a hurricane through Wednesday, but forecasters say if its path takes it further north, the system will weaken faster.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Gil got a little stronger over warmer waters Monday morning with sustained winds near 35 mph, and the storm might remain at its current strength for the next few days.
The storm was 1,065 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 8 p.m., moving slowly west-southwest at 9 mph.
It crossed into the Central Pacific, and the Honolulu-based Central Pacific Hurricane Center now has responsibility for tracking Gil.
Ballard said the current track takes Gil about 300 miles south of Hawaii, too far south to have a major impact on the state’s weather.
"I don’t think we’re going to see much of a weather change with Gil," Ballard said.
